Pope Francis dies at age 88

The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis died on Easter Monday. He was 88 years old.

His death came the morning after the holiest day in the Christian year, when the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics and other believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

CNN reported that, despite his poor health, Francis was seen a number of times in public at the Vatican during Holy Week, culminating in an Easter Sunday appearance where he delighted crowds at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

His death was announced “with deep sorrow” by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, who said Francis died at 7:35 a.m local time (1.35 a.m. ET).

“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God,” the statement said.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio 17 December 1936 in Argentina where he served as a priest for decades, was widely regarded as a voice for the poor who overcame fierce resistance to reshape the Catholic Church.

He became Pope on March 13, 2013, which made him the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. He was also the first born or raised outside Europe since the Syrian, Gregory III, in the 8th century.

Francis suffered a severe health crisis earlier this year and was hospitalized for five weeks with double pneumonia. 

But he recovered from the worst illness and was discharged last month and was convalescing at his residence at Casa Santa Marta at the Vatican. The Vatican said as recently as last week that his health was improving.